Li Jinglong had to subdue the fox demon and protect Li Longji at the same time. One moment, he would shoot at the soldiers who were charmed by the fox demon, the next moment, he would aim at the fox demon. He wished he could grow three heads and six arms.
"Your Majesty!" Li Jinglong turned around and shouted, "Don't come out! Quickly go back! "
"Don't worry about us!" Li Longji shouted. He held the emperor's sword in his hand and wore a dragon robe. He fought with the soldiers who rushed forward and kicked his own soldiers out of the corridor.
How could he not care? Once the emperor died, the entire Tang Dynasty would be finished! There were delirious soldiers everywhere who wanted to fight for their lives. Li Jinglong's only thought was, Any god is good! Give me some help!
"Hey, monkey — — my dear comrades!"
A whirlwind rose from the ground and swept up the glazed tiles of the Pure Flowers Palace. It swept down in an earth-shattering manner and instantly cleared the square in front of the palace!
"Atay!" everyone roared in unison.
"You're only here now!" Li Jinglong roared.
Atay flapped left and right. A fierce wind blew and tiles flew everywhere. They were mixed with ice and snow, making loud noises. A storm instantly swept through the courtyard of the Pure Flowers Palace. Then Mo Rigen whistled and shouted, "Chief Scribe!"
The two rushed out of the corridor at the same time. Mo Rigen leaned to the side and shot seven arrows in rapid succession. Li Jinglong still managed to catch the arrow. He stepped onto a collapsed wooden pillar and stared intently at the fox demon's movements.
Atay and Qiu Yongsi stopped the eight-tailed fox demon from advancing. Mo Rigen's four arrows stopped the fox demon from retreating. The fox demon roared and spat out flames while retreating. Then, three more arrows shot towards its neck!
In an instant, the world disappeared. Li Jinglong's eyes were only left with the flashing peacock plume. Release the arrows! He nocked another arrow!
The first arrow shot towards the giant fox demon. Just as the fox demon dodged Mo Rigen's arrow, Li Jinglong's divine arrow brushed past its neck. With a clear sound, the rope snapped.
The fox demon roared and the peacock plume fell to the ground. At the same time, Li Jinglong shot a second arrow!
The arrow was extremely fast, it hit the edge of the peacock's plume. 'Ding!' a clear sound was heard, the peacock was sent flying from the ground. It flipped and spun rapidly until it flew up to the roof. Hong Jun shouted loudly, "Thank you!"
Immediately after, Hong Jun slid down from the edge of the roof and swept over like an eagle. In an instant, he grabbed the Peacock Plume that was tumbling in midair! The fox demon spat out black fire, but Hong Jun blocked it with his Five-colored Divine Light. He flung out his hook and flew up to the roof on the opposite side.
... so.........................
....... It's your turn! "the Carp Demon shouted.
"When did you get here!? Let me smell the Soul Leaving Pollen! "Li Jinglong shouted when he realized that the carp demon was beside him.
"It's very expensive …"
"Release!" Li Jinglong shouted.
Carp Demon: "Then I'll release …"
"Don't waste time!" everyone shouted in unison.
Seeing the Shenwu Army soldiers charge again, the Exorcism Division retreated in front of Li Longji. The Carp Demon bounced off Atay.
"What … What is this?" Li Longji said in shock.
The carp demon turned around and gracefully waved its tail, scattering the Soul Leaving Pollen. Everyone quickly held their breaths. The Shenwu Army soldiers sneered one after another. The moment the Fox Demon left, the soldiers who were attacking Li Longji with weapons were all confused. They broke free from the Fox Demon's control under the Soul Leaving Pollen.
"Don't scatter it on His Majesty!" Li Jinglong was afraid that Li Longji would forget his promise after smelling the Soul Leaving Pollen. He was afraid that he would go bankrupt.
Hongjun held the Five-colored Divine Light in his left hand and a throwing knife in his right. He quickly jumped to the top of the palace.
The Fox Demon trampled the tiles and gave chase. Hongjun suddenly stopped and shook off four throwing knives with his right hand. He stared warily into the Fox Demon's eyes.
The Fox Demon trembled. Hongjun panted heavily and said in a low voice, "Eight-tailed Fox? You can't be the Demon King. "
The Fox Demon sneered and said sternly, "Do you know who cut off one of my tails?"
Hongjun was startled. The Fox Demon suddenly opened his mouth and black flames soared into the sky. They turned into a hurricane and swallowed Hongjun. However, Hongjun shook the Five-colored Divine Light and created a barrier to protect the main hall of the Pure Flowers Palace! The black flames were extinguished. Hongjun behind the barrier was unharmed.
The Fox Demon stared at Hongjun in a daze. Hongjun said, "Fox Demon, let me ask you something. How do you know my father? "
The Fox Demon sneered, "You think you're qualified to ask me?! You're Chong Ming's vile spawn! "
Hongjun roared, "You're not allowed to slander my father!"
Hongjun was furious. The four Immortal Slaying Flying Knives in his right hand combined into one. The power of wind, lightning, earth, and fire erupted and kept extending until it turned into a Mo Sword that was almost six feet long! The Mo Sword instantly shone brightly. The Fox Demon was furious and roared, "It's this sword again —!"
The Fox Demon pounced at Hongjun. Hongjun held the Jasper Peacock Plume in his left hand and instantly turned it into a light shield. He used his shoulder to block the Fox Demon's sharp claws. With a loud "weng" sound, energy erupted and the Fox Demon's three feet tall body was sent flying. The Mo Sword in his right hand rose from the bottom —
The Fox Demon let out a pained howl and released black flames in midair. However, the Mo Sword brazenly tore space apart and ripples appeared in the air. In the next moment, the black flames were dislocated like paper and space was crushed under the Mo Sword's might. The Mo Sword's momentum squeezed out layer by layer. The Fox Demon's eight tails were cut apart like paper without any resistance and purplish-black blood spurted out! Hongjun roared again.
He swung his sword a second time and fear appeared in the Fox Demon's eyes. He turned around and fell to the ground. The second sword missed its target, but it didn't lose its momentum. The dislocated space instantly squeezed open the side hall of Pure Flowers Palace. With a loud rumble, it collapsed. Then, the Saber Qi streaked across the side hall and flew into the forest outside the hall. Wherever it passed, trees collapsed and huge rocks slid down. Even the side peak behind the hall had an earth-shattering landslide. Loud noises rang out endlessly and a small portion of the cliff collapsed, filling up the deep valley below Mount Li!
When everyone caught up, they just happened to witness the side hall and the cliff collapse. They were completely dumbfounded.
"You … You …" Li Jinglong said, "Hongjun? What kind of magic did you use? "
Hongjun leaned on his Mo Saber and gasped for breath. He said, "She first … She cursed at my father first."
"Hurry and chase after her!" Atay snapped out of his daze and shouted.
Apart from Li Jinglong and Atay, the rest of the people had no strength left. Seeing the eight-tailed fox turn into a seven-tailed fox and stumble into the back hall, the two of them hurriedly chased after her.
"Wait." Hongjun shouted, "We have to cut off all of her tails one by one, or else we won't be able to subdue her … Wait! Chief Scribe! "
If it was any other time, Hongjun could still use the Immortal Slaying Flying Saber for a while after fusing into one. However, he was injured earlier and had his spirit sucked away by the Fox Demon, so he was quite tired and almost couldn't stand steadily.
"Let's go!" Mo Rigen went up to support him and quickly chased after her.
In the back hall, the wind blew through the curtains. Yang Yuhuan was anxiously waiting in the hall when a huge, injured gray fox came in.
Startled, Yang Yuhuan said in a trembling voice, "Big Sister?!"
Before she could take a closer look at the Huaqing Pool, Li Longji hurriedly took her to the back hall to hide and ordered her not to come out no matter what. Hearing the sounds of fighting and loud noises outside, Yang Yuhuan already felt that something was wrong. She didn't expect a huge fox to barge in in the end.
When she saw Li Jinglong and the others attack Madam Guo together, Yang Yuhuan had already guessed it. However, she couldn't believe that the huge gray fox in front of her was her big sister whom she had spent all her time with!
The fox demon slowly walked toward Yang Yuhuan with tears in its eyes.
Yang Yuhuan panted and raised a trembling hand to touch it. The fox demon lowered its head and gently touched Yang Yuhuan's hand with the tip of its nose.
"Little Sister …" Huge tears fell from its eyes, and its voice was choked with sobs. "When can I …"
Everyone caught up, and Li Longji walked out of the crowd. Yang Yuhuan turned to Li Longji, and Li Longji's eyes were full of shock.
Hongjun struggled to stand straight with his modao in hand. However, the fox demon growled, and its eyes shot out red light.
Yang Yuhuan's eyes flickered. Li Jinglong shouted, "Oh no!"
When the Carp Demon was about to rush forward and scatter the Soul Leaving Pollen, the fox demon was faster than them. It immediately bit the dazed Yang Yuhuan. Li Longji cried out in grief.
"My beloved concubine!"
Yang Yuhuan ignored him. The fox demon held her in its mouth and broke the wall of the back hall, flying out.
Everyone chased to the front of the back hall, but the fox demon had already rushed into the forest. Its gray fur merged with the forest and disappeared into the night.
Li Jinglong: "…"
Li Longji leaned against the broken wall and gasped for breath. His legs almost gave out and he knelt down. Li Jinglong hurriedly supported the emperor and dragged him back. Everyone looked at each other. Hongjun had already used up all his strength and sat down on the ground. He asked, "What do we do?"
The Spring Hall, the side halls, the courtyard, and the back hall of the Pure Flowers Palace were destroyed as if a hurricane had passed through. The Exorcism Division also became the number one demolition team of the Tang Dynasty. They demolished wherever they went. Li Jinglong looked at the trouble his team members had caused and completely lost his temper. Their only hope was that the emperor didn't forget that sentence of "destroy whatever you want".
Li Longji's hair was disheveled, and he sat barefoot in a pile of rubble. He asked, "Tell Us, what happened?"
"Your Majesty …" The Shenwu Army came to ask for instructions. Li Longji was furious and roared, "Scram! Trash! What's the use of raising you?! "
"Your Majesty is wise." Li Jinglong bowed and cupped his fists. "It has nothing to do with them. The power of a fox demon is charm."
Hongjun leaned against a pillar and felt thirsty and hungry. He replied, "It's already good that the mortals didn't kill each other. Take it easy."
Li Longji asked, "Since you already discovered that Madam Guo is a demon, why didn't you say anything?"
Li Jinglong said helplessly, "If it wasn't for the fact that I had no choice, I wouldn't be willing to take the risk here."
With that, Li Jinglong reported everything he had found in the past few days to Li Longji. Fear appeared in Li Longji's eyes.
Everyone was silent and looked at Li Longji. Hongjun didn't notice Li Longji the last time he saw him, but this time, he only felt that the emperor was very old. Li Longji was already 66 years old. At this moment, the spots on his face were all visible, and he looked very old.
"Exorcism Division, assemble." Li Longji replied, "Follow Zhen back to Chang 'an. The messenger will go first and order the six armies to leave the city and search for the Noble Consort's whereabouts. Li Jinglong, go and fetch Zhen's armor from Pure Flowers Palace. "
An hour later, the sound of armor rang out and torches were lit up in the dark of night.
While everyone was resting, Hongjun was thirsty and hungry. Fortunately, Pure Flowers Palace didn't lack for food. He didn't know what he ate in the dark, but he felt better after wolfing down the food.
"Let's go back," Li Jinglong said when he passed by Hongjun. "We'll eat after we return to Chang 'an."
Li Longji wore the Son of Heaven's Dragon Armor and his body flickered with golden light. Li Jinglong followed behind him in black armor. His helmet was pushed up slightly, revealing his handsome face.
The messenger rushed into Pure Flowers Palace at top speed and shouted, "Reporting!"
Li Longji said in a low voice, "Speak."
The messenger glanced at Li Jinglong and the group behind him. Li Longji roared angrily, "Speak! Otherwise, I'll take your head! "
Hongjun shivered. Although the Son of Heaven was old, his might was still there. As expected, the Emperor Star's might was quite suppressive.
"Chang 'an... is covered in black qi," the messenger replied in a trembling voice. "The city gates won't open. They're... they're all possessed."
Hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines. Madam Guo was actually so daring as to escape into Chang 'an?!
Li Longji turned to look at Li Jinglong. Li Jinglong could only brace himself and say, "Perhaps it's as Your Majesty predicted."
The deathly silence was terrifying. Li Longji said in a trembling voice, "She's simply too daring. Does that fox demon think Zhen can't do anything to her?"
Everyone was apprehensive and didn't dare to reply. After a long time, Li Longji walked out of Pure Flowers Palace. He was actually a bit out of breath.
Braziers were lit outside the hall. Occasionally, the soldiers who hadn't been awakened by the Soul Departing Pollen would discuss the matter after the fox demon's power was withdrawn. They could vaguely guess what had happened after Pure Flowers Palace was destroyed. Knowing that the Divine Martial Army had caused a great disaster, they didn't dare to make a sound. They all knelt on the ground and waited for the Son of Heaven to deal with them.
Li Longji stood in the plaza in front of Pure Flowers Palace. After a long silence, he said, "Where is the messenger?"
"Here!" The messengers stepped out.
"Hurry to Luoyang and summon Guo Ziyi." Li Longji said, "Go to Tong Pass and summon Geshu Han. Gather the troops outside Chang 'an and rescue the Emperor."
Li Jinglong's expression changed. "Your Majesty!"
"Do you think you can break through Chang 'an with just your strength?" Li Longji said coldly.
"Your Majesty." Li Jinglong said, "If we withdraw our troops from Luoyang and Tong Pass, I'm afraid something will happen. This subordinate... is willing to try."
Li Longji turned to look at Li Jinglong. After looking at each other for a moment, Li Jinglong nodded.
When Li Longji looked at the people from the Exorcism Division, they were all silent. Li Jinglong waved his hand and indicated for them to come over. After a brief discussion, Hongjun looked up at Li Longji.
"I can help you save your wife," Hongjun said. "The Emperor."
"Shh." Mo Rigen hurriedly signaled for Hongjun to be quiet.
Hongjun had always felt that Yang Guifei was a good person. As long as she wasn't a fox demon, he would feel relieved.
"Then, do you all need to rest?" Li Longji asked.
Li Jinglong replied, "There's no need to rush. We just need to reach Chang 'an before daybreak."
Li Longji shouted, "Divine Martial Army, hear my order! Set out! "
At midnight, two thousand Divine Martial Army soldiers left Mount Li and went back to Chang 'an.
The people from the Exorcism Division galloped on their horses. Hongjun urged his horse to catch up and asked Li Jinglong, "Chief Scribe, do you want to go through the waterway outside the moat?"
Li Jinglong nodded and asked Hongjun, "Hongjun, are you sure the Mind Lantern can break the fox demon's magic?"
"Perhaps." Hongjun didn't dare to be too sure and replied, "I'm just afraid you won't be able to take it."
Previously, everyone had witnessed the power of Li Jinglong's Mind Lantern in the cave. Even Longzi had been killed by the strong light. Moreover, the demon aura had almost been completely dispelled and then burned. The power that erupted from it was almost able to destroy formless objects. In the Exorcism Technique, formless objects were the most terrifying. After all, the Five-Colored Divine Light couldn't block the Bewitching Technique, the Mountain River Brush couldn't be put away, the Nailhead Seven Arrows couldn't be broken, the Hurricane Fan couldn't be swept away...
... but the Mind Lantern seemed to be able to.
It was just that there was no time to experiment. Qiu Yongsi was the first to propose this idea during the discussion. Everyone would try it first. If it didn't work, they would retreat to the outside of the city and think of another way.
Mo Rigen, on the other hand, believed that no matter how powerful the fox demon was, it would consume its vitality to drive its own people to change sides. Once or twice, it would be impossible for it to control thousands of people forever, even if there were six hundred thousand households in Chang 'an.
It was still worth a try.
"Let's change horses." Li Jinglong said, "Hongjun, come here."
The two horses moved closer together. Hongjun flipped over and jumped onto the horse's back, sitting behind Li Jinglong.
"Your flying dagger actually has such power." Li Jinglong pushed up his helmet and asked, "It can be seen that you have consumed a lot of energy and have been seriously damaged. You can't use it lightly."
"The Emperor said that I can destroy it casually." Hongjun refuted.
Li Jinglong said, "You still have to be careful. Otherwise, if you use this dagger, even your own people will be cut in half. It's too terrifying."
Hongjun grunted. That night when he chased the flying mastiff outside the city, he didn't dare to use it carelessly. He was afraid that he would cut the Chang 'an city gate in half with one blow.
"Teach me, how to use the Heart Lantern?"
"Let me try first." Hongjun answered.
He held the Jasper Peacock Plume in his hand and controlled the Five-Colored Divine Light. His two hands wrapped around Li Jinglong's waist and pressed against his chest. At this moment, Li Jinglong's iron armor made a sound. Under the cold armor, the hot blooded heart in his body was beating powerfully.
The Five-Colored Divine Light passed through Li Jinglong's chest and probed into his meridians. Li Jinglong's Qi and blood immediately surged and he felt extremely uncomfortable. However, the Divine Light retreated upon contact. Hongjun already felt that Li Jinglong's heart was blossoming with a blazing light, resisting the invasion of the Five-Colored Divine Light. That light was extremely slow, slowly flowing through the meridians in his entire body.
"There it is!" Hongjun said, "Can you feel it yourself?"
Li Jinglong grunted. Clearly, after escaping from the blood pool, he more or less felt that the Heart Lantern had already begun to protect him. However, the series of unforeseen events that followed happened too quickly, to the point that he couldn't practice and react in time.
Hongjun hugged Li Jinglong from behind and pressed one hand against his chest. He said, "First, raise the mana in your body and let the Heart Lantern travel along the Shaoyin Heart Meridian of the Hand, through the throat, through the Yuanquan two tendons, and into your right hand."
As Hongjun explained, he used his finger to move from his left chest through the armor to the right side of his body. Li Jinglong roughly knew the location of the meridians in his body when he practiced martial arts, but he still didn't confirm it. He took off his armor and pulled Hongjun's right hand along the outside of his body, following the meridians. He asked, "Is it right?"
"Yes." Hongjun pulled Li Jinglong's right hand. Li Jinglong loosened the reins and pressed his broad palm against his right hand, interlocking their fingers.
Hongjun's heart was caught off guard and fiercely jumped. Suddenly, he felt a warm light flash in his hand.
"I know." Li Jinglong smiled. "Thank you, Little Master."
Hongjun, "Ah …"
Li Jinglong's fingers clenched a little tighter and then loosened. He said, "I will practice well in the future."
This was the first time Hongjun had his fingers interlocked like this and his face suddenly turned red. However, Li Jinglong's action just now made him suddenly feel that there was some kind of tacit understanding between the two of them.
"Try … try holding the sword?" Hongjun said again.
"It's on the saddle." Li Jinglong answered, "Help me pass it."
As the horses galloped, Hongjun took the Sword of Wisdom from the saddle. Li Jinglong transferred the power of the Heart Lantern to his hand. Hongjun said, "Release it and pour it into the sword! You can do it! "
In the dark night, more than two thousand horses galloped. Li Jinglong poured the power of the Heart Lantern into the Sword of Wisdom. The sword in his hand immediately emitted a resplendent light. Immediately after, the strong light broke through the sky and the earth like a lighthouse in the dark night, brightening up with a whoosh!
The Shenwu Army immediately cried out in alarm. The rest of the Exorcist Division urged their horses to catch up and yelled, "Good job, Chief Scribe!"
"Oh! Chief Scribe is not simple! "
"Chief Scribe is shining!" Hongjun said to everyone with a smile.
Li Jinglong: "…"
Hongjun's words caused a burst of laughter. Li Jinglong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He tilted his head and asked, "That's it?"
Hongjun answered, "I only know this move. In the past, Chong Ming only taught me this. As for the rest, I will have to slowly think about it in the future."
Li Jinglong said, "Enough! Brothers, let's go! "
The horses neighed and charged into the darkness of Chang 'an City. At five o'clock, before dawn, the Guanzhong Plains had sunk into boundless darkness.